DIPLOMACY: Cyprus engaging with other countries should not upset Moscow

06 December, 2018

Cyprus determines its foreign policy as an independent state and member of the EU which does not constitute an obstacle in its excellent relations with Russia, government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said on Thursday.

He said the government and the President decide on the foreign policy of the country and as an EU member state, Cyprus follows the bloc’s strategy.

Nicosia was responding to a warning from Moscow not allow a US military presence on the island.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zaharova said on Wednesday: "The further militarization of the island and its involvement in the implementation of American and NATO plans will inevitably lead to dangerous and destabilizing consequences for Cyprus itself.”

Prodromou clarified there is no effort underway to militarize Cyprus

"On the contrary, we are trying to solve the Cyprus problem, which is a problem related to the presence of an occupation army on the island and we want this army to leave the country."

The spokesman said Cyprus has international agreements with a lot of states with which it maintains close relations, and in this framework, it provides facilities for purely humanitarian reasons.

He said Cyprus constantly develops its relations with other states, taking into consideration its own interests and the aim of promoting stability and security in the region.

Prodromou argued that security in the region is threatened by other factors and more specifically by Turkey’s actions.

Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov had a ‘friendly’ phone conversation in the wake of the undiplomatic comments from the Kremlin.

The “friendly and close relations between the two countries were confirmed”, said Prodromou.

He revealed the two ministers discussed a future exchange of visits.

Prodromou stressed that no one should be annoyed by the fact that Cyprus is trying to play the role of a pillar of stability in the region.

He said facilities which Cyprus provides to other countries must not be considered and are not related to military activities.